SERUM AND ESTRUS MUCUS ENZYMES ACTIVITIES AND CHEMISTRY OF NORMAL AND REPEAT BREEDER FRIESIAN CATTLE

Abstract

Estrus mucus (EM) and blood (serum) was collected from 40 apparently normal cattle (Normal breeder, NB
= 20; Repeat breeder, RB = 20) at the time of insemination for glucose, minerals, alkaline phosphatase (ALP),
lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and α-amylase concentration. In NB cattle, serum glucose and magnesium were
low (p<0.05), whereas, calcium and zinc were high (p<0.05) compared to their respective values in RB cattle. In
NB cattle, serum ALP was highly active (p<0.05) compared with RB cattle, while LDH was highly active (p<0.05)
in both serum and EM of RB compared with NB cattle. Serum α-amylase was similar (p>0.05) in NB and RB
cattle, while RB cattle EM had lower (p<0.05) α-amylase. The pregnancy rate calculated after four maximum
inseminations and following categorization into NB or RB cattle was 80% and 60%, respectively. In brief, the
variations in serum and estrus mucus enzyme activities and chemistry could be associated with breeding success
in Friesian cattle.